Citing improved security in Baghdad, the Iraqi government said Tuesday it was shortening the capital's curfew by two hours and would allow citizens to be on the streets until 10 p.m.

The easing of the ban on movement around the city coincided with a one-day sharp decline in the number of people known to have been killed in sectarian violence nationwide. According to police and morgue reports, 18 people died or found dead Tuesday.

Last week more than 600 people were killed nationwide in sectarian attacks.

Brig. Gen. Qassim al-Moussawi, the spokesman for the Baghdad security operation, stated the curfew had been shortened in the capital "because the security situation has improved and people needed more time to go shopping."

Police in Samarra, however, said U.S. and Iraqi forces had taken up positions around the city, 60 miles north of Baghdad, and imposed an indefinite curfew starting at 7 p.m. Tuesday.